Embattled Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents the Kogi Central Senatorial District, is set to officially return to the National Assembly later this month after completing her six-month suspension. The development has generated widespread attention, as the senator prepares to make her long-awaited comeback to plenary on September 23, when the Senate is scheduled to reconvene.
Her lawyer, Victor Giwa, confirmed the update in Abuja, noting that Natasha is currently in London on a brief vacation but has already put everything in place to resume her duties as an elected representative. “She’s ready to resume her term. She’s in London at the moment, but everything is in place, and the six months have expired. The only thing left is her resumption,” Giwa explained in a statement to PUNCH.
According to Giwa, there are no signs that the leadership of the Senate intends to obstruct her reinstatement. “We have been told that even the leadership of the Senate is ready to welcome her. So there is no obstacle at all,” he added, stressing that Natasha’s return should proceed without further controversy.
It will be recalled that Natasha Akpoti was suspended on March 6, 2025, after being accused of insubordination for refusing a reassignment of her designated seat during plenary. Following recommendations from the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, she was stripped of all official entitlements, including aides, salaries, and other privileges attached to her office.
The senator, however, consistently maintained that her suspension was politically motivated. She alleged that it was linked to her petition against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, whom she accused of sexual harassment—an accusation strongly denied and dismissed by the Senate. Natasha insisted that the disciplinary measure was unjust and an attempt to silence her voice in national debates.
Although she obtained a favorable court ruling that she argued supported her recall, the Senate leadership maintained that the punishment must run its full six-month course. In July, an attempt to re-enter the chamber led to dramatic scenes as she was blocked by security operatives, triggering protests from her supporters who gathered in solidarity outside the National Assembly complex.
With the official expiration of her suspension last Saturday, Victor Giwa emphasized that legal disputes still pending in court would not prevent her reinstatement. “Everything will be resolved. Even the court cases will become like an academic exercise,” he assured.
Her return on September 23 is expected to be one of the highlights of the Senate’s resumption, with political analysts predicting that her comeback could reignite debates over transparency, accountability, and internal discipline within the legislative chamber. Supporters of the senator are also preparing to welcome her return as a symbolic victory after months of political drama and legal battles.